Styles
of Worship in the Episcopal Church
Depending on where you attend church in the
Episcopal Communion, you may run into several different styles which varies
from parish to parish. At the root of the variety of Episcopal worship
styles are several basic categories. The following is a brief lexicon:
Anglo-Catholic
This style of worship is sometimes referred to as
"high church". The worship tends to be more sung than said and
involves many sensual elements--incense, bells, rich religious images,
candles, highly stylized choir hymns or even Gregorian or Anglican chants,
colorful vestments--and prayers invoking the saints and the blessed Virgin
Mary. The church may refer to its service as the "Mass".
Confessional booths may be noted within the church proper where confessions
are taken. The "Gospel" reading and the "Eucharistic
Prayer" (the consecration) may be chanted or sung. You may note
extensive use of devotional acts (crossing oneself, genuflections, etc.)
among the worshiping parishioners. This style of worship is highly stylized
and very ritualistic. It would be difficult to note any difference between a
high Anglican service and a Pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic service.
Evangelical
This style of worship is sometimes referred to as
"low church". The term "low" is not meant in a
derogatory way; it simply implies that the service is less formal and
"emphasizes scripture and a sermon based on the texts of the day with
some kind of invitation to change your life and the sense that the communion
is more like a supper with a friend than an audience with the King."
(The Rev. Hugh Magers, Office of Evangelism for the Episcopal Church) This
style of service may not use incense, or candles, or have a vested choir or
lay readers. There is typically a minimal amount of ceremonial. The music
will tend to be "heartfelt" such as reformation hymns or renewal
music. This style of parish will place a heavy emphasis on "personal
conversion and salvation by faith in the atoning death of Christ."
Broad Church
"Broad Church" is really a mixture of
"Low" and "High" church elements. It will often
interpret Anglican formularies and rubrics in a "broad and liberal
sense", neither "high church" nor "low church". The
majority of Episcopal churches fall in this category. This style mixes the
informality of the "low" with the formality of the
"high" in different configurations. For example, some may use
incense, but not have a vested choir or lay readers. Some smaller parts of
the service may be "sung" but the majority of the liturgy will be
said. Some worshipers may use devotional acts, while others may not. There
may be a mixture of "chant" with the more "heartfelt and
evangelical" hymns. The sermon will typically be based upon the
scripture reading of the day. Broad church is more difficult to define
because each parish will interpret the liturgy in different ways. Though the
basic foundation of the "Order of Service" will be utilized from
the Book of Common Prayer, different parishes may have different
interpretations and customs of that "order". The Church
of the Heavenly Rest would probably fall
into the category of "Broad Church".
Charismatic
"Charismata", the gifts of grace bestowed
on Christians to fulfill their vocation as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12:
8-10 are: speaking of wisdom, speaking of knowledge, faith, gifts of
healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in
tongues and interpretation of tongues.
In worship, says the Rev. Ruth Meyers, associate
professor of liturgics at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, "the
charismatic may have more active expression of gifts of the spirit...that
may be prayers for healing, often done at the same time as Communion. Those
prayers may include some speaking in tongues....It may include a freer style
of prayer inviting individuals to offer their prayers. There may be more
praying or singing with uplifted hands."
While charismatic parishes do continue to use the
prayer book, "they use it in a lot freer form..." You might have
several of the lay parishioners standing up in response to the lessons
giving various testimonies. There will be more elbow room for the leading of
the Spirit.
Innovative
Innovative liturgical styles are those that have moved beyond
the prayer book or added to it. Some congregations have reordered their
worship space, rearranged their liturgies, given lay readers greater roles,
chosen new and sometimes unauthorized music, or added elements borrowed from
other denominations. This style of worship is probably the rarest but on
occasion one will find it. An example would be St. Gregory of Nyssen
Episcopal Church in San Francisco, California that utilizes a very
innovative style in its worship.
